Toledo @ Syracuse preview

THE STORY: Off-the-field news rocked Syracuse and the college football world this week when it was announced the Orange would be leaving the Big East for the ACC. Saturday, however, Syracuse will be squarely focused on the MAC. Toledo enters the Carrier Dome on a two-game skid but took those lumps to ranked opponents in Ohio State and Boise State. Syracuse, meanwhile, took its first loss last week at USC after struggling in a narrow victory over FCS-opponent Rhode Island.

The Rockets have enough senior leadership to neutralize another hostile road environment, while its passing attack could be more than enough to shred a weak Orange secondary. Toledo ranks second in the MAC with more than 282 passing yards per game, while Syracuse has given up more than 300 yards through the air in two of its first three games. The Orange may also be crippled by the injuries to starting safety and leading tackler Shamarko Thomas and defensive end and primary pass-rusher Chandler Jones. Both players are questionable.

TV: Big East Network LINE: Syracuse -2.5

ABOUT TOLEDO (1-2, 0-0 MAC): The Rockets are still featuring a two-quarterback system with pure pocket passer Austin Dantin and dual-threat Terrance Owens. Whoever is under center, though, will have the luxury of playmaking receiver Eric Page, who has accounted for 145 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a nailbiter at Ohio State. Page could eat up a secondary that lacks a lockdown corner and has ceded significant yardage to No. 1 receivers this month. Last week, the Orange allowed Matt Barkley to find his favorite threat, Robert Woods, eight times. Against Wake, Chris Givens caught seven passes for 170 yards.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (2-1, 0-0 Big East): Senior QB Ryan Nassib has thrown for seven touchdowns to just one pick. Nassib, though, has taken far too long to get on target. He has led just one touchdown drive in the first half of the last two games, putting too much strain much too early on a defense that lacks quality depth. His favorite receiver has been Alec Lemon on crossing routes, but it’s deep threat Van Chew that will need to stretch the field vertically much in the way Boise State did to Toledo last week. The Rockets gave up two passing touchdowns of 20-plus yards in the first quarter of that 40-15 rout.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Toledo has upset a BCS team in each of the past five seasons. This is its last game in the regular season against such an opponent.

2. The difference could be whichever team breaks free on the ground. Both offenses failed to eclipse 100 rushing yards in last week’s losses.

3. Syracuse holds a 2-0 advantage in the series, including a 34-7 rout at the Carrier Dome in 2003.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 27, Toledo 23 – SU learned its lesson against Rhode Island and won’t come out flat. The Rockets have much less athleticism in the secondary than did the Trojans, and a couple big downfield plays will be the difference for Nassib and the Orange.